This needs some serious qualification... For starters, please feel free to define "divisive". I had no idea we were all under some olbigation to be non-divisive

This needs some serious qualification... For starters, please feel free to define "divisive". I had no idea we were all under some olbigation to be non-divisive, or "united". Secondly, HN is full of posts about the ineffectiveness of ad campaigns, advertising in general and even targeted ads at influencing people heavily. These are campaigns often orchestrated by multibillion dollar corporations that hire PhDs of all kinds to tailor their messages. Yet on the other hand -and especially since the media "misinformation" fiasco of resentment over Trump's victory against the elite's better judgement of what's best for the masses own decision making- suddenly any minor foreign group can somehow magically brainwash millions of Americans and others into making all sorts of decisions. I don't at all doubt that foriegn actors use social networks to spread memes and attempts at viral lies. I've seen plenty of examples of this in action. Its influence level however is being absurdly exaggerated and in very hypocritical, very self serving and ideologically charged ways. All the more laughable is the idea that any of this is something new or outside the area of what supposedly respectable major media organizations would do. Does anyone remember anything about how news sources operated before the advent of the internet? Does anyone recall the innumerable times major publications toed grotesque government lie machines for the sake of specific interests?